DOWNLOAD 2013 PREVIEW: The New Generation of Metal

Welcome to part two in a series of features previewing this year’s Download Festival. Each week, we shall be looking at a particular genre or scene that will be represented at the festival. You may have heard some of the more established bands, but these previews may introduce you to similar bands that are in the same vain.

In part two, we shall be taking a look at bands in the metalcore genre and the new popularity in this particular genre, with both established and up-and-coming contenders:

Bullet For My Valentine have divided opinion thanks to their slot between Korn and Slipknot, but like them or not they’re guaranteed to put on a banger of a show. Recent album ‘Temper Temper’ may have disappointed, but you can bet your shit that songs like ‘Scream Aim Fire’ and ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ will cause a mass of circle pits to flair up.

Asking Alexandria are fast becoming one of Britain’s biggest metal bands and this year will mark their debut on the main stage at Download Festival. Always the centre of attention for thousands of screaming teenage girls, vocalist Danny Worsnop will decide on the day if AA are to be a flop or a revelation. His temperament is volatile to say the least, so let’s hope it’s make and not break for Asking Alexandria.

Due to play at the same time as 30 Seconds To Mars on the main stage, chugging breakdown masters A Day To Remember may prove to be one of the biggest clashes of the weekend for many. Another debut on main stage after a couple of second stage appearances, ADTR always put on a fun as hell live show that can be enjoyed by fans of both pop-punk and metalcore alike.

ESCAPE THE FATE

Where?: Zippo Encore stageWhen?: Saturday @ 1:15pmWho do they clash with?: Buckcherry (Main), Nekrogoblikon (Pepsi Max), Astroid Boys (Red Bull), The Killing Floor (Jagermeister)Listen:You’re Insane (Music Video)Why?: Okay, so they may be this year’s Black Veil Brides, but ETF will still make it impossible to stand still on second stage.

PARKWAY DRIVE

Where?: Jim Marshall stageWhen?: Sunday @ 3:00pmWho do they clash with?: Amon Amarth (Zippo Encore), Hacktivist / Bleed From Within (Pepsi Max), Buffalo Summer / Radkey (Red Bull)Listen:Dark Days (Music Video)Why?:Parkway Drive on the main stage is going to be absolutely ridiculous. The Aussies will tear Donington limb from limb and then jump amongst the ranks with a tinnie.

Where?: Jim Marshall stageWhen?: Friday @ 1:50pmWho do they clash with?: Palm Reader (Pepsi Max), Free Fall (Red Bull)Listen:Follow The Water (Music Video)Why?:Architects are, like Asking Alexandria, debuting on main stage. Whilst not as big as Bring Me The Horizon, they’re a band from the same stable and they put on just as good a live show.

THE GHOST INSIDE

Where?: Zippo Encore stageWhen?: Sunday @ 12:40pmWho do they clash with?: Coal Chamber (Main), Krokodil (Pepsi Max), Mordecai (Red Bull)Listen:Faith Or Forgiveness (Live at Groezrock 2011)Why?:August Burns Red were the heavy hitters on second last year, and expect more of the same from The Ghost Inside this year. Combine Jonathan Vigil‘s powerful roars with some eyeball shattering bass drops and you’d sure as fuck better have somewhere to sit down afterwards.

Where?: Red Bull stageWhen?: Saturday @ 2:45pmWho do they clash with?: Mastodon (Main), Katatonia (Zippo), Walking Papers (Red Bull), Straight Lines (Jagermeister)Listen:Pacific Highway (Music Video)Why?:Silent Screams are catchy as hell and will no doubt be one of the bands to watch on fourth.

BLEED FROM WITHIN

Where?: Pepsi Max stageWhen?: Sunday @ 3:35pmWho do they clash with?: Parkway Drive (Main), Amon Amarth (Zippo), Radkey (Red Bull)Listen?:Uprising (Music Video)Why?:Bleed From Within are on the crest of a wave after the release of their hot new album, ‘Uprising’. Would probably be classified alongside death metal bands if it weren’t for the vocals.

RISE TO REMAIN

Where?: Jim Marshall stageWhen?: Friday @ 1:00pmWho do they clash with?: Dir En Grey (Zippo), Emperor Chung (Pepsi Max), Hammer of the Gods (Red Bull)Listen:Nothing Left (Music Video)Why?: Strong winds put paid to Rise To Remain opening the festival last year, so they’ve been invited back. Bruce Dickinson‘s son has the perfect opportunity to step out of the limelight of his illustrious father.

GLAMOUR OF THE KILL

Where?: Red Bull stageWhen?: Sunday @ 8:55pmWho do they clash with?: Rammstein (Main), Limp Bizkit (Zippo), Satyricon (Pepsi Max)Listen:So, Who Said Romance Is Dead? (Audio)Why?: Another so-catchy-it-hurts band, GOTK are like a poor man’s Bullet For My Valentine, but don’t let that stop you from getting caught up in their upbeat, fun-filled anthems.

HEART OF A COWARD

Where?: Pepsi Max stageWhen?: Saturday @ 4:25pmWho do they clash with?: Alice In Chains (Main), Lit (Zippo), Wounds (Red Bull), Buffalo Summer (Jagermeister)Listen:Deadweight (Music Video)Why?: When Jamie Graham left Sylosis, he took the metalcore element with him, and that can now be found in Heart Of A Coward.

DEMORALISER

Where?: Doghouse stageWhen?: Thursday @ 8:30pmWho do they clash with?: N/aListen:Bitter SpringsWhy?: The resident hardcore band of the Boardie takeover on Thursday night.

SACRED MOTHER TONGUE

Where?: Jim Marshall stageWhen?: Sunday @ 11:00amWho do they clash with?: Blitz Kids (Zippo), GMOS (Pepsi Max), Naked Flame (Red Bull)Listen:Two Thousand Eight Hundred (Music Video)Why?: Opening Sunday, Sacred Mother Tongue are similar to Rise To Remain in genre. They were excellent playing early last year on second and they should be the perfect wake up call for the final day this time by.

CYTOTA

Where?: Red Bull stageWhen?: Saturday @ 11:00amWho do they clash with?: UFO (Main), I Divide (Zippo), Broken (Pepsi Max)Listen:Preparing For The Worst (Music Video)Why?:Cytota may all be still in nappies, but they’ll still give some of the more established bands a run for their money on the Red Bull stage.

Next week: a look at the American bands playing Download, featuring down, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Mastodon.

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